John J. Mooney facts for kids

John Joseph Mooney (born April 6, 1930 – died June 16, 2020) was an American chemical engineer. He is famous for helping invent the three-way catalytic converter. This important device has greatly reduced pollution from cars since the mid-1970s.

Early Life and Education

John Mooney grew up in Paterson, New Jersey. He went to St. Georges Grammar School and then St. Joseph's High School, finishing in 1947.

After high school, Mooney worked for the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) for ten years. During this time, he also studied at Seton Hall University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1955.

He then spent a few years serving in the United States Army. After his military service, he continued his education. He went to Newark College of Engineering (now called New Jersey Institute of Technology). There, he earned a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in 1960.

Later in his career, in 1992, Mooney also earned an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in marketing. He got this degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University while working at a company called Engelhard.

In 2007, his former university, New Jersey Institute of Technology, gave him a special honorary Doctor of Science degree. This award recognized his amazing work in protecting the environment and improving car technology.

A Career in Chemistry and Cars

While in the United States Army from 1955 to 1956, John Mooney was part of important tests. These tests took place in the Pacific Ocean at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He was involved in learning about new technologies.

In 1960, Mooney started working at a company called Engelhard. One of his first jobs there was to make hydrogen gas purer. He also worked on a way to turn ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. This helped the United States Air Force easily get hydrogen for weather balloons. It was much easier to ship liquid ammonia to far-off places than big tanks of gas.

Solving Car Pollution

In 1970, new laws called the Clean Air Act were passed. These laws said that cars had to release much less pollution. The main pollutants were hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.

At that time, devices called catalytic converters could only handle some of these pollutants. They could reduce hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, but not nitrogen oxides. Car makers and chemical companies worked hard to find a better solution. They wanted a way to reduce all three types of pollution at once.

Chemist Carl D. Keith and John Mooney, along with their team at Engelhard, found the answer. In 1973, they created the first production catalytic converter that could handle all three pollutants. This was called the "three-way catalyst."

Their invention used a special mix of materials, including Platinum and Rhodium. These materials were placed on a ceramic honeycomb with tiny passages. This design was very clever. It made sure that the right amount of oxygen was available for the chemical reactions. This allowed all three pollutants to be removed in one device. The three-way catalytic converter changes harmful nitrogen oxides into harmless nitrogen and oxygen. It also turns carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and unburnt hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water.

Achievements and Impact

John Mooney was recognized for his important work many times.

In 1990, he was made a Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). This honor was for his efforts in controlling car exhaust pollution.

In 2001, John Mooney and Carl Keith received the Walter Ahlstrom Prize. This award recognized their invention and how they helped make the three-way catalytic converter widely used. By the time they received this award, it was estimated that their converters were in 80% of new cars worldwide. Their invention had stopped millions of tons of harmful pollutants from entering the air.

Mooney and Keith were also honored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. In 2002, they received the National Medal of Technology. This award was given for their invention and for making the three-way catalytic converter a key part of all new cars around the world.

Other Inventions and Global Efforts

John Mooney was awarded a total of 17 patents. One of his later inventions was a catalytic converter for small two-stroke engines. These engines are found in tools like chainsaws, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers. His invention greatly reduced pollution from these engines. It also made them use fuel more efficiently and even gave them more power.

As the President of the Environmental and Energy Technology and Policy Institute, Mooney worked to end the use of leaded gasoline worldwide. He worked with the United Nations Environment Programme. In 2002, many countries in Africa still used leaded gasoline. Mooney helped show that lead in gasoline was not helpful and caused problems. Because of his efforts, 50 out of 51 countries in Africa had banned leaded gasoline by the end of 2006.

Retirement and Legacy

John Mooney retired from Engelhard in 2003. He had worked for the company for 43 years, making a huge difference in environmental technology.

He lived in Wyckoff, New Jersey.

John Mooney passed away on June 16, 2020, after a stroke. His inventions continue to help keep our air cleaner every day.